Griddle cleaning device



Feb. 6, 1951 J. FARROW GRIDDLE CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet l 16 ff W JNVENTOR FRaow JOSEPH BY Feb. 6, 1951 J. FARROWGRIDDLE CLEANING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1949 INVENTOR.JOSEPH FRROW BY MWA/2 Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im-` provements in griddlecleaning and polishing handtools, and more particularly the aim is toprovide a novel and valuable such tool for cleaning and abrasivelypolishing the at upper surface of a griddle or heating plate such asused in many types of restaurants and eating places for the making ofgriddle cakes, the frying of eggs, bacon, etc.

According to the invention, a device is provided, which, having at itsbottom an elongate plate-like backing structure or platen and at its topa comfortably grippable plate-like handle elongated in the direction ofelongation of said platen, incorporates between the platen and handle apreferably cylindrically tubular magazine for storing therein and incoiled condition a supply length of emery cloth or the like, thislast-named element in a roll of a width substantially equal to thelength of the platen and of a length several or even many times theplaten width; in combination with an egress opening for 'the emery clothor the like, said opening preferably a slot extending longitudinally ofthe magazine at a side thereof, and also with a unique type of clampingmeans for a subdivision of the length of said cloth after saidsubdivision, having been drawn through said opening, is Wrappedlaterally around the platen and then upwardly directed at its free endat the exterior of the magazine at its side opposite to the location ofsaid opening, said clamping means for holding taut the stretch of saidcloth underlying the bottom of the platen and for anchoring said stripto absolute tautness, with the abrasive side of the cloth lowermost, andin further combination with means readily manually operable adjacent tothe handle for loosening said clamping means and restoring the latter toits normal clamping function.

Also, preferably, said magazine is closable at both ends by disk-likecaps forming part of a readily removable and remountable minor assemubly; which assembly may include a rod permanently secured at one end toone of said caps and tubulated at its opposite end and there internallythreaded to provide part of a means, including a screw having a threadmatching said internal thread, for coupling the cap other than the onejust-named to the tubular end of said rod, thereby securely temporarilyto remount both end caps, and with said rod, incidentally forming acentering mandrel relative to the aforesaid coiled reserve portion ofthe abrasive cloth `or the like.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the hand-tool constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 1, but with the top handlebroken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of thehand-tool.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating a differentposition of the parts.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a portion of the clamp means.

The cleaning and polishing hand-tool, according to the presentinvention, includes a platen, preferably of a lightweight metal, asaluminum or an aluminum alloy, and of shallow U crosssection as shown inFigs. 5 and 6, is designated It. The plate-like elongate structurecomprising the handle, this marked II, may Well be a die or othercasting, in the former case practicably of a metal as ordinarily used indie-cutting. The magazine I2, for a roll of emery cloth I4 of thedimensional characteristics already stated, may be made of any material,as brass or other metal; and it will be noted that the same is merely asquarely cut-off length of what may well be a standard extruded tubing.Extended from end to end of the magazine I2 along one side, there is aslot I5, constituting the already mentioned egress opening for asubdivision of the emery cloth I4, as indicated in Figs. l and 2.

The clamping means for functioning as already explained incorporates abottom-gapped clamping barrel I6 which overlies and straddles the majorpart of the circumference of the magazine I2, with the concave side ofthe barrel, of course, facing the convexity of the magazine. A pair oflugs I'I are secured to the bottom face of the handle II by screws I8,the bottom ends of the lugs are extended in opposite directions and seucured to the top of the magazine I2 by screws I9. The platen I along itscentral longitudinally extending thinner portion is permanently securedtothe bottom of the magazine I2 in any suitable Way, as by the threescrews 20 shown, thereby halves Ilia and i610.

to cradle the lower rotundity of the magazine I2 in the space providedalong said central portion of the upper side of the platen.

The clamping barrel I5 is formed of opposed The adjacent top edges ofthe barrel halves Ia and Itb are pivotally curled about a rod iii whichextends between the upstanding portions of the lugs I1, as shown in Fig.4, the ends of the rod so are reduced and received in complementaryholes formed in the upstand-v ing portions of the lugs I'I. A coilvspring 4I is coaxially wound on the rod lo intermediate of itsI ends.The ends of the coil spring il bear against the undersides of the barrelhalves It@u and lh,

as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, forv urging the` halves I5JL and I'binto the open or inoperative position of the halves IISa and [5P the4length of emery cloth Iii is free to be drawn from theslot I5 of themagazine I2 to beadjusted with relation to the magazine I2 and theplaten Iii.

Manually operable clamp means is provided for rurging the barrel halvesIta and IGP, against the action of th-e spring @I into their closed oroperative position shown in Fig. 5 and for holding the halves in thatposition. That clamp means comprises an arch-bar 2|, which may be madeof a metal or other material, and which should either be inflexible o-rsubstantially so. The bar 2l is elongate and longitudinally curved to aless, and preferably a considerably less, radius of curvature than theclamping barrel I5, when closed, and'even, also desirably, less thanthat of the tubing of which the magazine I2 is made.

Other elements of said clamping means are an actuating screw 22 arrangedso as when rotated in one 'direction to result in the imparting to thearch-bar 2! at the center of its lengthof a downthrust against the upperpart of the clamping barrel I5. The screw 22 is threadedly engagedthrough the handle II and is formed at its bottom end with a reducedportion 23 which is. rotatively extended through a complementary hole,inthe bar 2i. The face end of the portion 23 is'milled over as shown inFigs. 4 to 6 for retain-l ing*` the bar 2l rotatively in positionthereon. The slightly reduced head 2d of the screw 22 .is of squarecross-section ior fitting keyingly-ina square hole through the center ofa knurled manually turnable disk 25; which latter Ais vthe 7 aforesaidactuator of the clamping means. The square head 2li ci the screw 22 is'axially recessed and tapped, and a screw 26 having a` thread matchingthe thread in said recess 21 is provided for securely coupling the disk25 to the screw 22.

rlIwo generally like stepped end caps 28. and 29 are provided forreadily detachable securem'ent to Y close both ends of the, emery clothhousing cham'- ber provided at the interior of the magazine I2,

. A round rod 35 is at one end permanently secured to the center of theend cap 28,A so vas to extend therefrom, in any suitable way, asv byhaving a reduced end portion for extension through a central aperture inthe cap 28, and then for being headed over, all as indicated at 3l inVVFig. ,-1.

Y There is a tubulaton 32 in the opposite endofv said rod, whichtubulation is internally threaded. The other end cap 29 has a centralaperturefor. the passage therethrough of an attaching. screw 33 having athread matching the threadin the tubulation 32 of the rod Sil. Thus,merely by removing the screw 33, the chamber in themagaf zine I2 may beop-ened at both ends, and with the caps, 2 3, and 2a arranged as shownin the-draw ings, all that is needed fully to close the magazine, exceptfor the slot I5, is to apply and tighten up the screw 33.

With the end caps removed, a suitably elongated roll of the emery clothI4 or the like may be stored in the magazine I2 and is placed on the rod32 which facilitates rotation of the roll of emery cloth, as clearlyshown in Fig. l, and so that an end portion of the flexible abrasiveelement I4 traverses the slot I5 and is extended to beyond the adjacentlower end edge of the clamping barrel half 63; with, it beingunderstood, the disk 25 rotated Suiiiciently to raise the arch-bar 2l,as shown in Fig. 6, and so to allow the already mentioned resilient biasof the clamping barrel I6 to distend the same, despite the presence ofthe arch-bar 2|, and thereby open up a passageway for the beingwithdrawn end portion of the abrasive roll It below the slot I5 andbeyond the lower endvof the adjacent barrel half Ita.

This having been done, said iiexible abrasive element It is withdrawnfurther for extension. around the platen Iii as shown, and for entry ofthe free outerr end of said element IA up into the space between theexterior of the magazine I2 and the other barrel half I5?, as indicatedkinV dot and dash lines at Illa in Fig. 6. Now, without excessive slackbeing allowed in any part ofthe roll I4 exterior to the clamping barrelIE, all that is required in order to holdtaut the stretch of saidelement III acrossy the` bottom of the platen i0 and over the entirelength of the latter, andy to anchor said element I4 between theclamping barrel I5 and the magazine I2, in a way to hold saidvtautness,isto turn the disk` 25 in the direc,- tionvre'quired to restore theparts to the condition showny in Fig. 5.

It is to be noted that, the iiexible abrasive ele: ment of the roll it,extends across the entire width of the platen IB and also substantiallyalong its entire length; and that, when thefpor-` tion of said elementilirunderlying the bottom of' the platen has been so long used that itsabrasiveeilcacy has considerably deteriorated, it is a simple matter, byrst turning the disk 25 in one direction, toopenthe opposed halves`ofthe tenerse-, 1 and leb thus snowing die. de',T teriorated element tobe torn fromy the roll I lIv and then withdrawingl by handr a suliicientpor. tion of the abrasive element from the roll I4- to cover the bottomof the platen.v Bly turning the disk ze in trie opposite direction, dieOpposed- Ahalves of the barrel will return to their original' position.One result is that the platen bottom is always covered with a fullyeiective abrasivel covering another result is thatthere is;r nounnecessary wastageV of the flexible abrasiveeleu ment; another resultis that recovering the bot-` tom ofthe platen is a simple and easy,matter;V and another result is that a verylarge. reserve supply of theelement Id may be stored in the` magazine I2- The Vcontrol disk 25 of,the clampA means isofa diameter lessthan the width oi i the handle and0f a" mistress.. les@ than. ihe-fihiknessfof the material used to formthe. handle.' The centerof the handle il isV recessed at 36 tothethickness ofY the disk 2,55-,l so that the diski will be receivedtherein with its top falceV ush. witlr ine top ofthe handle; il, as,snqwninriigs. lV and 5, when thev clamp barrelT I5 is in itsop-.feavtivey position. The sides of the haifidlef'Illv are formed withcutouts 35 which. exp9sedia-fmetrically opposite V'sides o'fthefknurledfdisk providing a finger grip by which the disk can -be convenientlyturned in one .direction or the other for similarly turning the screw22.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it `is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modications coming within the scope of the invention asdened in, the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A cleaning and polishing device for the purpose stated, comprising abottom structure shaped to provide an elongate plate-like platen, a topstructure shaped to provide an elongate plate-like handle the directionof elongation of which is in the same direction as that of said platen,a tubular magazine for a flexible roll carrying an abrasive surface,said magazine being elongate with its direction of elongation in thesame direction as that of the handle and platen, said roll being ofawidth substantially equal to the length of the platen and of a lengthequal at least several times to the width of the platen and saidmagazine at a side thereof having a straight slot as long as the widthof said roll, said handle being secured to and spaced above the top ofsaid magazine and said platen being secured to the bottom of saidmagazine with its general plane substantially parallel to the generalplane of the handle, and a clamping means for holding extended acrossthe bottom of the platen a subdivision of the length of said roll, saidclamping means including a manual actuator for loosening and tighteningthe clamping means and carried by the handle, said clamping meansincluding a bottom-gapped clamping barrel of a length approximating thatof said magazine, and means for thrusting L against said barrel near itstop for elastically reducing its said radius, thereby to constitute saidbarrel a double-acting clamping instrumentality at its bottom gaprelative to parallel linearly extended portions of said roll along linesangularly displaced one from another at the exterior of the magazine,said clamping means further including an arch-bar overlying the clampingbarrel and extending laterallyof the length of the magazine and havingits concave side downwardly directed, said bar having a substantiallycircular direction of longitudinal extension, the radius of curvaturethereof at its said side being less than that of said barrel, and athreadedly mounted operative interponent between said manual actuatorand said arch-bar.

2. A cleaning and polishing device for the pur-- pose stated, comprisinga bottom structure shaped to provide an elongate plate-like platen, atop structure shaped to provide an elongate plate-like handle thedirection of elongation of which is in the same direction as that ofsaid platen, a tubular magazine for a flexible roll carrying an abrasivesurface, said magazine being elongate with its direction of elongationin the same direction as that of the handle and platen, said roll beingof a width substantially equal to the length of the platen and of alength equal at least several times to the Width of the platen and saidmagazine at a side thereof having a straight slot as long as the'widthof said roll, said handle being secured to and spaced above the top ofsaid magazine and said platen being secured to the bottom of saidmagazine with its general plane substantially parallel to the generalplane of the handle, and a clamping means for holding extended acrossthe bottom of the platen a subdivision of the length of said roll, saidclamping means including a manual actuator for loosening and tighteningthe clamping means and carried by the handle, said clamping meansincluding a bottom-gapped clamping barrel of a length approximating thatof said magazine, and means for thrusting against said 'barrel near itstop for elastically reducing its said` radius, thereby to constitutesaid barrel a double-- acting clamping instrumentality at its bottom gaprelative to parallel linearly extended portions of said roll along linesangularly displaced `one from another at the exterior of the magazine,

said clamping means further including an archbar overlying the clampingbarrel and extending: laterally of the length of the magazine and hav--ing its concave side downwardly directed, said bar having asubstantially circular direction of longitudinal extension, the radiuscurvature thereof at its said side being less than that of said barrel,and a threadedly mounted operative.

interponent between said manual actuator and said arch-bar, saidinterponent being secured to said manual actuator for rotation thereof,and comprising a screw rotatively connected to said arch-bar,

3. In a cleaning and polishing device for the purpose stated, a tubularmagazine for a roll of abrasive material having a ilat bottom platen and-a slot along one side thereof through which the the platen, resilientmeans normally urging said barrel halves away from the sides of said.magazine, and manually operable means for holding the halves of saidclamp barrel in their operative `position clamped against the sides ofsaid magazine.

4. In a cleaning and polishing device for the purpose stated, a tubularmagazine for a roll of abrasive material having a flat bottom platen anda slot along one side thereof through which the end of the roll ofabrasive material can be projected to be extended across the bottom faceof said platen and then upward along the other side of said magazine,spaced lugs extended upward from the top of said magazine, a handlemounted on the top of Said lugs, a clamp barrel of opposed halvespivotally supported on said lugs between said magazine and said handleto be clamped against thelsides of said magazine for securing theprojected end of the roll of abrasive in position with a portion thereofextended below the platen, resilient means normally urging said barrelhalves away from the sides of said magazine, and manually operable meansfor holding the halves of said clamp barrel in their operative positionclamped against the sides of said magazine, and a rod mounted betweensaid lugs and said opposed halves of said clamping barrel havingadjacent edge portions curled about said rod orming the pivotal mountingof the halves of said clamp barrel.

5. In a cleaning and polishing device for the 7 purpose stated, atubular magazine for a roll' of abrasivematerial having a flat bottomplaten and aV slot along one side thereof through which the end of theroll `o f abrasive material can be pro- -jected to be Aextended acrossthe bottom face of vsaid platen and then upward along the other side cisaid magazine, spaced lugs extended upward rom the top of said magazine,a handle mountedon the top of said lugs, a clamp barrel of opposedhalves pivotally supported on said lugsbetween said magazine and vsaidhandle to be clamped against the sides of said magazine for securing theprojected end of the roll of abrasive in position with a portion thereofextended below the platen, resilient means normally urging said barrelhalves away from the sides of said magazinaand manually operable meansfor holding the halves of said clamp barrel in their operative `positionclamped against the sides of said magazine, and a rod mounted betweensaid lugs and said opposed halves of said clamping .barrel havingadjacent edge portions curled about said rod forming the pivotalmounting of the halves of said clamp barrel, said resilient meanscomprising a spring yon said rod having its ends acting against thebottom faces of Said opposed halves and pivoting them away from.

the sides of 'said magazine.

6.v In a cleaning and polishing device for the vpurpose stated, atubular magazine for a roll of .abrasive material having a flat bottomplaten and a slot along one side thereof through which the end of theroll of abrasive material can be projected to be extended across thebottom face of saidv platen and then upward along theother side of saidmagazine, spaced lugs extended upward from the top of said magazine, a,handle mounted on the top of said lugs, a clamp barrel of opposed halvespivotally supported `on said lugs ybetween said magazine and said handleto be clamped against the sides of said magazine for securing theprojected end of the roll of abrasive in position with a portion thereofextended below kthe platen, resilient means normally urging said ybarrelhalves away from the sides of said maga-.- zine, and manually operablemeans for holding Athe halves of saidclamp barrel in their operativeposition vclamped against the sides of said magazine, said manuallyoperable means comprising a rigid arch-bar extended across said clampbar,- rel with its concave side facing downward, said arch-bar havingits ends engaging the top faces of the opposed halves of said clampbarrel onopposite sides of said pivot, and means carried by said handlefor holding said arch-bar vin positions in which the opposed halves ofsaid clamp barrel are clampedagainst thesidesr-,of said* magazine orAfree to ,be urged away from the sides of said magazine by vsaidresilient mea-ns,

'7. In a, cleaning and polishing device for the purpose stated, atubular magazine for a roll .of abrasive, material having a flat bottomplaten and a slot along 4one side thereof through which the end of theroll of vabrasive material can be vprojected .to b e extended vacrossthe bottom face of said platennand then upward along the other side ofsaid magazine, spaced lugs extendedk upward from, the .top yof saidmagazine, a handle mounted on the top of said lugs, a clamp barrelofopposed halves pivotally supported on said lugs 4Vbetween saidmagazine .and said handle tor be 4clamped against the sides. of saidmagazine for `.securing the projected ,end of the roll of abrasive inposition. with `a portion thereof extended below thehplaten, resilientmeans normally urging saidLbarrel. halvesaway from the sides of saidmagaznaand manually operable means for holding, the halvesof said clampvbarrel intheir operativeposition clamped against the sides of saidmagazine, said manually operablemeans comprising Aa rigid karch-barextended across said .clamp barrel, with its concave side facing down--Wldsad arch-bar having its ends Vengaging the top, facesof' the opposedhalves of said clamp barrelon opposite sidesof ,said pivot, and meanscarriedjby said handle ,for holding said arch-bar in positions inwhichrtheopposed halves of said Vclamp Vbarrel are clamped against thesides of said magazine orfreelto be lurgedaway from the sides of saidmagazine by said resilient means, said means Qarrriedj by said .handlevcomprising agscrew .threaded throughsaidlhandle, said screw having Yitshottomend rotativelyconnected to said archbarfintermediate of its ends,and disk on the top end of said screw vby whichsaid screw can be turnedto raise, andy lower said arch-bar with relation 4tosaid clamp barrel.

JOSEPH FARROW.

REFERENCES Orrin) Thefffollowing references are of record in the `iileofthis patent: Y

UNITED `s rA'rEs PATENTS Number Name Date r'123,888 .(Brernez,` Feb. 20,1872 842,5519- Peters Jan. 29,1907

1,943,054` McReynoldsk Feb. 13, 1934 2,197,224 Peterson Apr. 16, 1940,2,408,815Y ASeward; Oct. 8, 1946 2,459,893 Peterson. Jan. 25, 1949

